Tooth-brush holder.



W. L. SMITH.

TOOTH BRUSH HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1912.

1,050,864, Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WESLEY LINFORD SMITH, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOOTH-BRUSH HOLDER.

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To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WESLEY LINFORD SMITH, a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tooth -Brush Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tooth brush holders.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and sanitary holderarranged for the ready insertion and removal of the brush, and which protects the brush from dirt, dust, germs, etc.

The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the same; Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4: is a view, corresponding to Fig. 2, of a different form of holder; Fig. 5 is a cross section of the same on the line 55, Fig. 4E; and Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a multiple holder.

The holder shown in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a base or support 1, formed of a strip or plate of thin metal, as brass, steel or the like, and provided at or near its upper end with suitable means for fastening it to the wall, as for example an aperture Below the upper end of the support is a bracket 3, comprising a split ring of yielding or springy metal riveted, soldered or otherwise Secured to the support 1, as at 4. At. 01' near its lower end the base or support 1 is bent or pressed out at right angles to itself to form a dish shaped ledge or shelf 5 having a central depression 6 to receive the lower end of the tooth brush handle and provided with a small drainage opening 7 therethrough. The rim of the ledge may be flanged downwardly, as shown, to add to the ornamental appearance of the device. Within the bracket or ring 3 is mounted a cover or protector 8 for the tooth brush. This comprises a tube of glass or other sanitary material, closed at its upper end and open at its lower end, and somewhat rcsembling an ordinary test tube. The'protector 8 is placed in position in the bracket 3 b"'merely ushing it in from the front, the arms of tiie bracket yielding sufiiciently to permit this and being of such strength Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 7. 1912.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

Serial No. 702.196.

tion 12 upon the tube 8, which may be formed, for example, by heating a restricted portion of the material of the tube with a blow pipe and blowing thereinto to expandv the glass outwardly.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a modified form of the invention in which the base or support 1 is somewhat thicker than that shown in Fig. 1 and is made of cast metal, the ledge or shelf 5 being-either integral with or secured to the lower end of the support and provided with the socket or depression (3. With this form of the invention the bracket 3 is preferably integral with the base and comprises a continuous ring which completely surrounds the tube or protector 8. To prevent the tube from dropping out of the' holder,

'the tube or protector 8 is of slightly greater diameter at its upper portion than at its lower portion to form a shoulder 10* to rest upon the upper portion of the ring 3, the lower portion of the tube being of such diameter as to snugly fit within the ring.

The tooth brush is placed in the holder by inserting it endwise upwardly into the lower end of the tube or protector until the lower end of its handle can be placed in the socket of the shelf 5 or 5, the shelf being made 'of a width substantially equal to the diameter of the housing 8 or 8, so this can be readily accomplished. When in this po- -sition the bristle portion of the brush is wholly surrounded by or inelosed wit-11in the protector, the deposit of dirt or germs thereupon being thereby prevented. Water or moisture on the brush runs down along the handle and is drained 'out through the opening 7.

The holder is easily cleaned. by removing the protector from its bracket, when it may be washed or cleansed in any suitablemanner and the whole, including the tube and base,'can be sterilized 111 any approvedway. With either form of the invention shown the tube or protector, if desired, may be IQO formed at or near its upper end withohe or more small apertures. 13 therethrough to permit free circulation of air through the tube to ventilate the. same, although this is.

' brush. Fig. 6 shows a holder provided with accommodations for four tooth brushes. This holder comprises a wide flat base or support 1 havin one or more means 2 to secure it to the wa l and provided at its lower end with a continuous ledge or shelf 5" having spaced depressions G-therein to receive the ends of the several brush handles.

Brackets 3 are also formed on the base or support to hold the tubes 8 above the respective sockets 6. Themultiple holder may be constructed according to elther of the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and is shown as formed of pressed metal like the form of Fig. 1. Obviously, it may also be arranged to support any number of brushes, as for example, two, three, four, six, etc. Toen ablethe brushes of different members of the family to be distinguished one from the other each .tube or protector 8 may be provided with a suitable distinguishing mark.

The holderillustrated is extremely simple and comprises but few parts. In the form shown in Fig. l the base ,or support land ledge 5 are made of a single piece by simple punching and stamping operations. Both forms of the invention are inexpensive and can be readily cleansed when it is desired. The holder supports the tooth brush in upright position and prevents contact of the bristles with anything other than the sanitary and cleanly material of the protector 8. The brush is entirely'inclosed and it is practically impossible for dirt or germs to be deposited thereupon.

What I claim is: I,

1. A tooth brush holder comprising a vertioal support arranged to be secured to the wall, a tubular housing open at its lower end and closed at its upper end rigidly held by said support, and a horizontal ledge or shelf continuous with said support and pro jecting therefrom below the lower end of said 'tubular'housing and arranged to sup portthe lower end of the-handle of a tooth brush inclosed in said housing,the width of said ledge or shelf being substantially equal to the diameter of said tubular housing.

2. A tooth brush holder comprising a support, a bracket on said support,a tubu- 6'0 lar housing open at its lower end and closed at its upper end rigidlyheld in said support, interengaging parts on said tubular housing and said support arranged to, revent rotation of said housing in said brae et, and a ledge or shelf on said support below the lower end of said housing and arranged to support the lower end of the handle of a tooth brush inclosed in said housing.-

3. A -tooth brush holder comprising a support, a bracket thereon, a tubular housing in said bracket having a shoulder resting thereon and open at its lower end and closed at its upperend, and a ledge or shelf on said supportbelow the lower end of said tubular housing and arranged to support the lower end 0 the handle of a tooth brush inclosed in said housing.

4. A tooth brush holder comprising a support, a bracket thereon, a tubular housing haying an annular groove or depression forming shoulders, one resting on said bracket and the other beneath the same, said tubular housing being open at its lower end and closed at its upper end, and a ledge or. shelf on said .support below the lower end of said housing and arranged to sup port the lowerend of the handle of a tooth brush inclosed in said housing.

5. A' tooth brush holder comprising a sup ort, a plurality of tubular housings carriec by said support, each of said housin being open at its lower end and closed at its upper end and provided with a distinguishing mark, and a common horizontal ledge or shelf at the bottom of saidsupport and projecting outwardly therefrom and arranged to support the ends of the'handles of tooth brushes held in said several housings, the width of said shelf being substantially equal to the diameter of said housings.

6. A tooth brush holder comprising a support, a plurality of tubular housings ear- Tied by said support, each of said housings being open'at its lower end and closed at its upper end and provided with a distinguishing mark, means connected to said support* for supporting the lower ends of the handles of. tooth brushes held in said housings, and means arranged, to prevent rotation of each of saidhousings in said support.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WESLEY; LINFORD SMITH.

Witnesses:

I, H. KLINE,

F. W. WrN'rER. 

